Transparency and Accountability in Modern Military Operations

1 December 2017

The New Zealand Defence Force recently hosted a one-day workshop on transparency and accountability in modern military operations.

More than 50 experts and officials attended the workshop, which was held with the assistance of Victoria University Law School. Invitees included former judges of international tribunals, human rights lawyers, and the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force as well as senior legal academics, a representative of the Ombudsman’s Office and the head of the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The workshop critically examined the effectiveness of the current framework and discussed the military justice system. It considered how transparency and accountability can be balanced against the imperative for operational security, which is necessary to protect our people.

The military justice system underwent a comprehensive review in 2007 with legislative amendments coming into force in 2009. Like any system, it requires regular review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose in a modern military context.